Create Your Own Fog

Standards Addressed

MEGOSE EAW2 Describe weather conditions and climates.
MEGOSE EAW6 Describe patterns of changing weather and how they are measured.
MEGOSE EAW10 Explain and predict general weather patterns and storms.

Quick Summary of Lesson

Students form fog in a jug. This lesson would be a great intro to looking more deeply at fog during a weather unit.

Materials

Glass jar
Wire mesh
Ice cubes
Hot water

Procedure

1. Fill the jar halfway with hot water.
2. Place the wire mesh on top of the jar's mouth. Then place 3-4 ice cubes on top of the wire mesh.
3. After a few minutes, observe the fog that will form inside the jug.

Notes to the Teacher

The reason this activity works is this: the hot water evaporates into the jar. The ice cubes create a cool air mass at the top of the jar. This cool air causes the evaporated water to condense again, so that we see fog. Of course, the evaporated water does need condensation nuclei in order to condense (dust, aerosols, etc), but that's usually not lacking in a normal classroom!